Member #302059

I purchased 3 units of the Bluetooth Modem - BlueSMiRF Gold, and I had very bad experience, the quality of SparkFun is good, the problem was the limitations of the Bluetooth module Roving Networks RN-41.

2 issues i found out in my project:

1) Roving Networks RN-41 only have SPP Bluetooth profile. SPP is not bad, for instance is available in Androids, but no way with iPhone. So therefore, SPP in not enough in many applications. Even more, SPP is a replacement of some kind or serial port like RS232, so SPP is more like a legacy communication for old apps. Bluetooth has many more interesting profiles like HID (suported by iPhone), OPP, etc. that have more bright future.

2) The big problem for me was the firmware of the Roving Networks RN-41, the AT commands and services are really limited. The big stopper in my case was the fact I needed that the BT module to generate event to the host micro controller when a paring was done or when an incoming call was coming from a cell phone. The firmware form Roving Networks RN-41 doesn’t generate any event!

So unfortunate I waste my money with the 3 units of the Bluetooth Modem - BlueSMiRF Gold. After realizing the new necessities, I started an investigation of the best and more flexible Bluetooth modules in the markets, for me one of the best are Blugiga (www.bluegiga.com). The are very good, the can generate event and they support a wide list of profile.

So what I did is to create my own Bluetooth Modem based on the Blugiga WT11 compatible with the pin out of BlueSMiRF Gold. So I could replace the module in my motherboard.

If somebody in interested in a Bluetooth Modem based on the Blugiga WT11 compatible with the pin out of BlueSMiRF Gold, can take a look in the Cisium site (http://www.cisium.com), the product is:

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